7 Reasons January’s Premier League Transfer Window Was a Major Disappointment

The January transfer window closed yesterday after a month of fevered speculation and very little in the way of big deals. Here are 7 Reasons that it was a major disappointment.

1. Where’s Waldo? Despite strong rumours in December, Chilean defender Waldo Ponce was not signed by Wigan in the January transfer window. I can’t begin to express how disappointing this was. I wasn’t even consoled by their signing of Moses. Waldo Ponce…Waldo Ponce! It would have been amazing.

2. Loan moves. It seems that most of the transfers in this January’s window have been loan moves. That’s not surprising given the current financial state of many of many Premier League clubs, but the redistribution of players who are not deemed good enough to make it into the the first teams at their own clubs to other clubs is hardly exciting. Also, Robinho left the Premier League on a loan deal, and he was really entertaining me. Well, off the pitch, anyway.

Ruud van Nistelrooy visits the set of a popular American television show.

3. Ruud van Nistelrooy. A genuine world-class striker, he was linked with just about every major Premier League club this January and hasn’t gone to any of them. He’s gone to Hamburg where, if he can steer clear of hoof injuries, he should do rather well. Or if you believe Wikipedia, he’s signed for Gateshead many years into the future.

4. Harry. The ever-prolific Harry Redknapp has been disappointing during this transfer window – he’s only brought a couple of players in and sent a couple out on loan. Not only has he been unusually inactive this January, he’s also been below par when dealing with the media. This is how he announced the signing of Eider Gudjohnsen: “It was his decision to come to us. He said ‘I want to come to Tottenham’.” Sadly, I could find no Youtube footage of this revealing press conference.

5. Campbell. With the arrival of Thomas Vermaelen in the summer Arsenal seemed to have completed their defensive line-up. And, to most people, it appeared that all they needed to revitalise their team in January was a big, prolific striker and an aggressive defensive midfielder. So they re-signed lumbering war-horse, Sol Campbell. Opinion is divided over whether Sol will be a good signing for them. The argument from most of those in favour of the move seems to be that he was a great player once, so he’ll be fine, despite lacking the pace that most people believe is necessary to play in the Premier League. I just hope that he can still do this.

6. Manchester United. Behind Chelsea in the title race, it was supposed that Fergie would want to improve his squad in January. The most exciting transfer news from Old Trafford last month was Danny Wellbeck going out on loan to Preston North End. Do you remember where you were when you heard that? No, me either.

7. Final Day. The activity on the final day of the transfer window is usually frenetic and exciting. The biggest announcement on the final day of this window was that Robbie Keane had gone to Celtic on loan. That’s right, a talented and exciting player is leaving the Premier League – for a bit. That pretty much summed up this January transfer window. A loan move that does nothing to enrich the quality of the Premier League and not a lot else. It’s lucky we had John Terry to distract us.